Question Number: 20925

Law 15 - Throw In 3/3/2009

RE: Amatuer Adult

Will Thompson of Widnes, Cheshire UK asks...

This question is a follow up to question 12247

RE : As long as ANY part of EACH foot is on any part of the touchline

is this not a little vague?, i was always under the impression that any part of the foot going over the line was a foul throw, on the line and not over being ok.

however after a dispute with a ref over this rule at the weekend i see the rule is now interpreted as above with players now throwing the ball from a position that is clearly on the pitch.

If this is the case does this not infringe on the rules of handball? if a players heels are on the line when he releases the ball then surely the player is on the pitch when the ball is still in his hands.

if a keeper has his feet in his penalty area but handles the ball outside the box then thats handball, surely the rule cant change?

i think it should be : As long as ANY part of EACH foot is on any part of BUT NOT OVER the touchline

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

It's not an interpretation of the Law, it is the Law, and it's very specific. Law 15 says the thrower 'has part of each foot either on the touch line or on the ground outside the touch line.' That's the way it's been for years. Part of each foot, not all of each foot. It's a great Myth of the Game that many people believe, that a foot touching on the line or over the line should make it a foul throw. It's just not so.

As for handling, the ball isn't in play until it is released by the thrower, so it doesn't apply. When the goalkeeper holds the ball beyond the penalty area line, the ball is in play and handling would apply.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

What we think the Laws should say or be is not relevant. As referees we have to enforce them as written and as a coach or player, you have to play by them as written. Sometimes our impressions prove to be wrong and must be updated.

Throw-ins have allowed the thrower to have part of either foot on the line for as far back as I have books (over 25 years) and it goes back much further than that. What they cannot do is have a foot (or two) completely on the field and not touching the line.

As for the hands, as Ref Voshol notes, a throw-in has three parts: 1)location where it left the field; 2) proper procedure for the throw by the thrower; and 3) the ball is in play when it has left the thrower's hands and broken the plane of the field. So, it can't be a deliberately handled ball until it is in play, and it can't be in play until it is released. Should the thrower be foolish enough to touch it again with his hands (or any part of his body) after the throw and before it is touched by another player, the thrower will be subject to a whistle for either a double touch (indirect free kick) or a deliberately handled ball (direct free kick - punishing the more serious of two infractions).

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You may not like what Law 15 states, but it's very clear in what it says. I would tell you that you are not alone in this. SInce the boundaries include their surrounding lines, one would think the players feet should be behind the touch line. But... that's simply not the case. Even if the player is on the field but has both heels touching the touchline, the throw may be legal. As to deliberately handling the ball, that's a foul and fouls may only occur while the ball is in play. AT a throw-in, the ball is not in play until it has left the thrower's hands so a call of deliberately handling the ball is impossible.